Email addresses
Always ensure email addresses are visible when linking them. Never require a user to click on a link or button to see an email address. This presents a significant user experience and accessibility issue.
Best practices
- Always make sure the email address is visible in the link when you are using the mailto: attribute on a link. Use this method to display email addresses on biography pages or general contact information.
- Create a web form if you would like to receive an email with a specific subject line or to collect structured data.
Why it matters
Approximately half of desktop users do not have a default email client set up. When these users click on a link that says "contact us," with the mailto: attribute and/or subject line set up as the link itself, they will not be able to see the email address or use it to contact the appropriate person.
Additionally, many people who do have default email clients may not wish to use the default client to send an email, or they may not wish to have to use their email client simply to see an email address.
Practical examples
| Do this |
Don't do this |
|---|---|
| Contact Jane Doe at janedoe@smu.edu |
Contact Jane Doe |
| Email me at johndoe@smu.edu |
Email me |
|
(link to form) |
(mailto: link with subject line) |
| Email help@smu.edu for assistance |